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- Title
The Cycle of Violence: Associations Between Exposure to Violence, Trauma-Related Symptoms and Aggression--Findings from Congolese Refugees in Uganda.
- Authors
Hecker, Tobias; Fetz, Simon; Ainamani, Herbert; Elbert, Thomas
- Abstract
War-related trauma exposure has been linked to aggression and enhanced levels of community and family violence, suggesting a cycle of violence. Reactive aggression--an aggressive reaction to a perceived threat--has been associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In contrast, appetitive aggression--a hedonic, intrinsically motivated form of aggression--seems to be negatively related to PTSD in offender and military populations. This study examined the associations between exposure to violence, trauma-related symptoms and aggression in a civilian population. In semistructured interviews, 290 Congolese refugees were questioned about trauma exposure, PTSD symptoms, and aggression. War-related trauma exposure correlated positively with exposure to family and community violence in the past month (r = .31, p < .001), and appetitive (r = .18, p = .002) and reactive aggression (r = .29, p < .001). The relationship between war-related trauma exposure and reactive aggressive behavior was mediated by PTSD symptoms and appetitive aggression. In a multiple sequential regression analysis, trauma exposure (β = .43, p < .001) and reactive aggression (β = .36, p < .001) were positively associated with PTSD symptoms, whereas appetitive aggression was negatively associated (β = -.13, p = .007) with PTSD symptoms. Our findings were congruent with the cycle of violence hypothesis and indicate a differential relation between distinct subtypes of aggression and PTSD.
- Subjects
CONGO (Democratic Republic); UGANDA; VIOLENCE &; psychology; AGGRESSION (Psychology); REFUGEES; EMOTIONAL trauma; POST-traumatic stress disorder; DOMESTIC violence; VIOLENCE in the community; CONGOLESE (Democratic Republic); FAMILY violence &; psychology; DIAGNOSIS of post-traumatic stress disorder; MENTAL status examination; PSYCHOLOGY of refugees; REGRESSION analysis; SEVERITY of illness index; PSYCHOLOGICAL factors
- Publication
Journal of Traumatic Stress, 2015, Vol 28, Issue 5, p448
- ISSN
0894-9867
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1002/jts.22046